Types of CIS Microform

Hearings
Both houses of Congress hold hearings into proposed legislation. The text
of these hearings on microform includes testimony of witnesses and discussion of
the legislation.

Committee PrintsCommittee prints are called the “homework of Congress". Prepared by
committee research staffs, by the Library of Congress, or by independent
consultants, they have been a means of providing members with the authoritative
background information needed to consider complex issues of national policy.

Serial SetThe U.S. Serial Set includes material related to Congressional bills that
does not fall neatly into the above categories. This may include:

Congressional publications, such
as committee reports on public and private legislation, House and
Senate journals, directories, rule manuals, and histories of Congress and
the Capitol

Executive branch
publications, including Department and agency annual reports and special
recurring publications

Nongovernmental
publications, including reprints from magazines and newspapers, professional
journals, etc.

Indexing

The first step in finding this material is in knowing
where it is indexed. Different indexes are available depending on the date
of the bill

U.S. Congressional Committee Hearings Index
(Reference KF 40 C57)
Multi-part index of Congressional hearings from 1833 to 1969, divided according
to time periods. Each set lists hearings by number and indicates the CIS
access information for locating that hearing on microfiche. Indexing is
also available by bill name and by organization or agency. A numerical
listing of bill numbers lists hearings held on that bill. The sets are
organized as shown below:

For Congressional activity prior to 1982, nearly all
information is available on microfiche. This is available in the microform
reading room in Microfiche Cabinets 24-30. On any index citation,
note the CIS (Congressional Information Service) number, the designation for the
type of document (Published Hearing, Unpublished Hearing, Committee Print,
Serial-Set) and the designation of the appropriate chamber (S for Senate; H for
House of Representatives).

From 1970-1983, hearings,
committee prints, and serial set items are interfiled together under the
designation CIS/Serial Set.The CIS numbering system from 1970 is important to understand.
Numbers look like this: H491 or
S232 or J261 (H is for House, S is for Senate, and J is for
Joint Committee.)

The first two digits represent a particular committee and are used
continuously each year. The LAST DIGIT represents the TYPE of material.
This is VERY IMPORTANT to note when using the indexes. Items ending with:
0 = House or Senate documents or special publications
1 = Hearings
2 = Committee prints
3 = House or Senate reports
4 = Senate Executive reports
5 = Senate Executive documents (Senate treaty documents)

Superintendent of Documents (SuDoc) Collection (1983+)
Cabinets 60-64

From 1983 onward, hearings
and committee prints are interfiled with other government documents and
accessed by SuDoc number (e.g. Y4 ). This collection is not complete
and receipt of the microfiche may lag by a year or more. Serial Set
items continue to be housed in the CIS Collection

ProQuest Congressional
Index of Congressional hearings and
publications available from 1789 onward. Searchable by a variety of
fields, including P.L. number, bill number, committee, or sponsor.

Subject Categories

Use these subject headings in Truman's Library Catalog to find microforms and
other materials related to Congressional legislation.